A Lake County South Dakota farmer has several concerns regarding the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline. Energy Transfer Partners of Dallas, Texas wants to build the pipeline which would run from North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields across South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois. Charlie Johnson who farms near Madison says there needs to be financial responsibility proven by the company in order to pay for any possible spills or accidents.
Johnson says the Public Utilities Commission needs to deny Dakota Access a permit until they show they’ve been bonded.
Johnson says another concern he has is that many farms the proposed pipeline will cross has drainage tiling on their property.
Johnson says formal hearings will be held by the South Dakota P-U-C in the future and individuals have until February 13 to apply to the commission for party status. That if granted would allow them to cross examine the permit applicant and ask for documents throughout the process.